On-Campus Housing

We offer a variety of housing options for students of all class years. Within each hall we aim to foster an inclusive community that meets each student’s academic and social needs. We have halls specifically for the first-year experience, the continuing student experience, and the graduate student experience.

New On-Campus Housing Options Beginning Fall 2019

A new system of tiers for on-campus housing will be implemented in the 2019-20 academic year. The tiers are designed to reflect variations in room configuration, kitchen access, and amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Through the new pricing structure, Tufts’ housing fees will enable the University to sustain expansion, investment, and maintenance of the University’s residential facilities. This change will bring Tufts in line with many other universities and colleges that have already adopted a tiered structure as a means of responsibly managing and maintaining campus resources. In the Greater Boston area, this includes Boston University, Boston College, Babson College, Bentley University, and Brandeis University, among others.

In response to student and community feedback, the University is continuing to expand housing options to give more students the opportunity to live on campus. The prices of housing options in the new tiered structure, which include utilities and amenities such as water, electricity, and cable, as well as other support generally unavailable in off-campus options, are competitive with the off-campus housing market. Also, on-campus housing agreements are for the academic year while off-campus leases are predominantly for 12 months.

For some students, the tiered housing structure will result in an increase in their on-campus housing costs. However, Tufts also remains committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of each admitted and returning student and will include the cost of any on-campus housing in the need calculation for students on financial aid.

No. The price adjustments required by the new structure will affect all housing options. However, we know that, as part of the total cost of on-campus room and board, food costs are typically lower for students with access to kitchen facilities.

As part of Tufts’ continued commitment to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted and returning students, the cost of each housing tier will be factored in when determining students’ financial aid awards. Awards will be adjusted as necessary to meet the full demonstrated financial need of each admitted and returning student.

Examples:

Jess has the full cost of housing covered by their financial aid award. In 2018-19, Jess will live in a Traditional Double in Bush Hall and will pay $0 of the usual cost of $7,934. In 2019-20, Jess will live in a CoHo Apartment Single. Even though CoHo is in the highest tier, Jess's financial aid would cover the full cost of CoHo ($10,219), and their out-of pocket expenses for on-campus housing would remain $0 provided their financial circumstances are consistent to 2018-19.

Chris has 60% of the cost of housing covered by her financial aid award. In 2018-19, Chris will live in a double in Hill Hall and will pay 40% (or $3,173.60) of the usual $7,934 cost. In 2019-20, Chris will live in a Standard Apartment Single in Latin Way with no kitchen. Chris's financial aid would be adjusted to cover 66.17% of the usual cost of $9,380, and her out-of-pocket expenses for on-campus housing would remain $3,173.60 provided her financial circumstances are consistent to 2018-19.

Please note that the cost of housing is only one small factor in determining financial aid awards each year. Changes in family income and assets, family size, and number in college are also key factors. Aid awards vary from year to year based on all of these factors.

Tufts has committed to supporting all students’ access to each tier of on-campus housing. Financial aid awards will be adjusted to support the full demonstrated financial need of each admitted and returning student, regardless of the type of housing they select. This means that all students who receive financial aid will be able to participate in the housing selection process knowing that their aid will match their need, regardless of the price of their preferred on-campus accommodation. While Tufts looked to peer institutions while developing the new pricing system, the University’s commitment to adjusting financial aid in this way sets us apart and is specifically designed to maintain our commitment to meaningful inclusion and access to Tufts experiences for students of all financial circumstances.

In alignment with the recommendations of the 2015-2016 Residential Strategies Working Group and in response to feedback from students, families, and our Medford and Somerville neighbors, the University has undergone a comprehensive effort to improve our residential housing program. The tiered housing program will allow the University to advance these efforts, which include:

Through a multi-year bed optimization program in partnership with Campus Planning, AS&E adding 337 additional on-campus beds and initiating major renovation work in Houston and Miller Halls that provides significant updates and enhancements for those first-year residence halls, including improved accessibility.

The CoHo project, currently in Phase 1, creating 137 additional on-campus housing spaces for juniors and seniors by Fall 2019.

Improving the transparency and efficacy of the housing lottery and the development of a new process that is now five weeks shorter than it was before 2017.

Increasing online and staff supports for students seeking off-campus housing, and adding 20% more Residential Life student staff to support student safety and wellbeing.

All first-year students in the Class of 2022 living with other first-year students, allowing for more targeted programming and resources for both new and returning students.

Beginning with the Class of 2022, all first-year students being assigned roommates through Residential Life’s Housing Survey. We have adopted this practice because we believe assigning roommates for our first-year students is better aligned with our educational mission, which includes a residential experience that encourages undergraduates to meet, study, and socialize with peers from all backgrounds.

First-year students will continue to be assigned randomly to first-year residences based on their responses to the University’s roommate matching survey. As a result, all first-year residences will be assessed at the same price. All sophomore students will receive a lottery number and will be able to select a room based on preference and availability. Rising juniors and seniors wishing to live on campus can apply for a lottery number in the fall semester similar to previous years.

Recognizing that tuition and housing fee planning are essential parts of the college experience for students and families, we are announcing the rate adjustment one full year in advance to give students, parents, and families time to review and consider all housing options, both on and off campus.

Beginning in Fall 2019, the tiers for on-campus housing will be as follows. (Please note that many buildings are part of multiple housing tiers, and that all rates are for the academic year.)